Shloka 27
यौ तु पूर्व महाराज वारितौ कृतवर्मणा । प्रविष्टे त्वर्जुने राजंस्तव सैन्यं युयुत्सया,महाराज! जब अर्जुन युद्धकी इच्छासे आपकी सेनाके भीतर घुसे थे, उस समय (ये दोनों भीमके साथ ही थे, किंतु) कृतवर्माने उन दोनोंको पहले रोक दिया था
yau tu pūrva mahārāja vāritau kṛtavarmaṇā | praviṣṭe tv arjune rājaṁs tava sainyaṁ yuyutsayā ||
Droṇa said: “O great king, those two whom Kṛtavarman had earlier held back—at the time when Arjuna, eager for battle, forced his way into your army—(were present then as well).”
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key ethical tension in war: even amid violent conflict, restraint and tactical checking of force (vāraṇa) can be decisive. It also underscores accountability—Droṇa recalls who intervened (Kṛtavarman) and when, implying that outcomes in battle depend not only on valor but also on timely restraint and command decisions.
Droṇa addresses the king and recalls an earlier moment when Arjuna, driven by the will to fight, penetrated the Kaurava formation. At that time, Kṛtavarman had already restrained “those two” (two warriors previously referenced in the surrounding passage), preventing their immediate action.